Rwanda Case Law

IMANZA Z'UBWISHINGIZI ZACIWE N'URUKIKO RW'IKIRENGA (Insurance digest Supreme Court 2025)

Court

Supreme Court

Permanent disability from a traffic accident entitles the victim to economic loss and career prejudice compensation regardless of whether employment or income was lost, provided the disability is medically certified. Career prejudice compensation is not limited to those who lost jobs but extends to anyone whose professional prospects are diminished by the injury. Dependency claims by adults require proof of actual support and need. For self-employed or informal workers, damages are calculated on net income or sector benchmarks. Compulsory motor insurance does not cover workplace accidents, wh…

Source excerpt

• Personal injury compensation
• Permanent disability
• Economic loss
• Career prejudice
• Funeral expenses
• Dependency claims

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MUKAKALISA ET AL. v SONARWA ET. AL (Fond)

Court

Supreme Court

Case number

RS/INJUST/RC 00009/2024/SC

Claimants failed to prove financial dependence on the deceased and thus are not entitled to financial loss compensation. However, they are entitled to affection loss compensation and funeral expenses as per statutory formulas, and to procedural and counsel fees due to prevailing in the case. The claim was not prescribed due to lack of proper notification and ongoing negotiations.

Source excerpt

• Accident compensation
• Financial loss compensation
• Affection loss compensation
• Funeral expenses
• Prescription of claims
• Burden of proof

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MUKAKALISA N’ABANDI v SONARWA N’UNDI (Fond)

Court

Supreme Court

Case number

RS/INJUST/RC 00009/2024/SC

The Supreme Court held that the claim was not time-barred because the insurer failed to notify claimants of the settlement proposal and negotiations were not properly terminated. There was no valid settlement as the person who signed lacked full authority. Economic damages were denied due to lack of proof of dependency or special circumstances. Moral damages were awarded as per law, deducting amounts already paid. Funeral expenses were awarded in a reasonable amount. Litigation costs and attorney fees were partially granted to claimants as prevailing parties.

Source excerpt

• Compensation for road accident
• Prescription of claims
• Economic damages
• Moral damages
• Funeral expenses
• Authority to settle

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NYANDWI N’ABANDI v SANLAM A.G Plc

Court

High Court

Case number

RCA 00379/2022/HC/KIG

The High Court partially allowed an appeal in a road-accident compensation case, revising pecuniary damages for the deceased’s parents and confirming other awards.

• Road traffic accident compensation
• Pecuniary damages
• Casual labor compensation
• Burden of proof for dependency
• Funeral expenses
• Costs and attorney fees

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MUKANDAYAMBAJE N’ABANDI VS SANLAM AG PLC

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

RS/INJUST/RC 00021/2022/CA

Applicants failed to provide the required documentary evidence of the deceased's professional farming income; therefore, the High Court correctly calculated economic damages based on the minimum wage for unskilled labor. The applicants' claim for higher damages and litigation costs lacks merit. Each applicant is ordered to pay a share of the respondent's litigation costs and attorney fees.

Source excerpt

• Compensation for road accident
• Proof of income for self-employed
• Burden of proof
• Funeral expenses
• Costs and attorney fees

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RADIANT v NYIRANDIKUBWIMANA NABANDI

Court

High Court

Case number

RCA 00066/2022/HC/RSZ (NDU

The High Court held that adult family members must prove actual dependency to receive pecuniary damages after a fatal road accident; mere cohabitation was not enough.

• Motor vehicle accident compensation
• Pecuniary damages
• Dependency claims
• Burden of proof
• Funeral expenses
• Cultural damages

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SANLAM v KARANGWAYIRE NABANDI

Court

High Court

Case number

RCA 00195/2022/HC/KIG

The High Court upheld an award of dependency and funeral damages after finding that Karangwayire Caritas proved she was supported by the deceased.

• Compensation for fatal accident
• Burden of proof for dependency
• Quantification of damages
• Funeral expenses
• Dependency-damages
• Funeral-expenses

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PRIME INSURANCE v MUSHIMIYIMANA

Court

High Court

Case number

RCA 00039/2022/HC/KIG

The High Court set aside economic damages for lack of proof of dependency, reduced funeral expenses from 700,000 to 200,000 Frw, and dismissed minors' claims.

• Compensation for fatal accidents
• Funeral expenses
• Standing to claim damages
• Burden of proof for dependency
• Fatal-accident-compensation
• Funeral-expenses

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RADIANT INSURANCE COMPANY LTD vs NDAGIJIMANA N’ABANDI

Court

High Court

Case number

RCA00071/2022/HC/RWG

Siblings who share only one parent with the deceased are entitled to compensation for distress; economic loss compensation to parents is not awarded absent proof of dependency; funeral and related expenses must be supported by evidence and are awarded within statutory limits.

Source excerpt

• Motor vehicle accident compensation
• Survivors' compensation
• Funeral expenses
• Legal standing of siblings
• Burden of proof for dependency
• Discrimination among beneficiaries

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NYIRANDEGEYA N’UNDI V. SAHAM ASSURANCE RWANDA LTD

Court

Intermediate Court

Case number

RC 00011/2017/TGI/NYG

The court held that the statutory minimum wage for calculating damages is 3,000 Frw per day as established by Supreme Court precedent, and the applicable interest rate is that published by the National Bank of Rwanda (8.57%). Plaintiffs are entitled to economic and moral damages, as well as reimbursement of proven funeral and legal expenses. Modification of the claim was permitted as it was properly raised in supplementary submissions and the defendant failed to object in pre-trial proceedings.

Source excerpt

• Motor vehicle accident compensation
• Calculation of damages
• Statutory minimum wage
• Interest rates on damages
• Funeral expenses
• Legal costs

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